Trolley device



July 7, 1931. F. F. WAECHTER TROLLEY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1930 wuu filler/for fMecbfer Liz M i 1 Jilly 7,1931. F. F". WAECHTE'R 1,313,898

' TROLLEY DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1950 z'sneets-sneet 2 hI Mn, L47

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT non-ICE FERDINAND F. WAECHTER, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR IO LINK- BELT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS I TROLLEY DEVICE Application filed December 22, 1930. Serial No. 504,027.

. This invention is concerned with load carrying trolley devices, and its. particular object is to avoid the troublesome and costly results of loads acting at an angle to the ver-' '5] ticalcenter line of a trolley device.

The problem involved exists in many different situations, of which the one here presentedmay be regarded as typical. In material handling systems of the general type herein shown, the problem is one of long standing, on which much effort has been exended, and for which no adequate solution has thus far been presented. Such systems usually involve a trolleybeamand a trolley follower consisting of rollers supported by the beam and mounted in a frame from which the load is suspended. When the load acts at an angle to the vertical center line of the trolley beam, forces are set up which tend to severely distort the beam and impair its anchorage, thus leading to costly repairs or replacement. These forces also impose abnormal strains on the trolley follower which may result in serious damage.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the general layout of the particular system to be herein considered.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 22 30. of Figure 1. e

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating the 1 objectionable condition which the present invention is designed to correct.

Figure 4is a view in side elevation showing the application of the present'invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, also illustrating the application of the invention. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but illustrating a modified form of-the invention.

The particular material handling system in connection with which the present invention will be described may consist of several material receiving bins or pockets, a trolley beam above the pockets, and'means for hoistrespect to the vertical planev of the trolley l beam and then conveying the same longitudinally of the beam and -depositing it in any one of theseveral pockets. 7 A general illusvstood in this art.

ing material from a point laterally offset with and 2, wherein the several bins or pockets a are indicated at 1, 2 is the overhead trolley beam, 3 is the hoist cable, t is the hoistbucket, 5 is the inclined track on which the bucket travels, and 6 is a means for loading the bucket. The cable load is carried by trolley beam 2 through the medium of a trolley follower and other means which will now be I described. 7 7

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, it will'be seen that the trolley follower consists of two substantially U shaped frames7, in each of which is mounted a pair of rollers 8 designed to run on the lower flange of the I section trolley. beam 2. Pivotally suspended from each of the frames 7 is a sheave carrying yoke 9 in which sheaves 10 are journaled. Yokes 9 are rigidly secured together by tie plates 11. The hoist rope 3 extends oversheaves 10 and around a sheave 12 which is journaled in the upper portion of bucket 1. Thisv arrangement of sheaves and hoist rope serves to raise and lower the bucket in a manner well under- Other cables or ropes 13 serve to move the bucket along the trolley beam.

It will be understood that the design of the bucket supporting track 5willvary, ac-' cording to the conditions peculiar to each installation. The path of travel of the bucket may be either straight or broken, and at a greater or lesser angle than shown. In any case, the problem remains so long as thepoint from which the material is to be hoisted is laterally olfset with respectto the vertical plane of the trolley beam.

Considering now the operation of the sys tem shown, and referring particularly -to Figure 2, it will be noted that with the bucket in the position shown, the hoist cable 3 extends at a considerable angle to the vertical plane of the trolley beam. This angle pro gressively-diminishes as the bucket moves up the inclined track. However, during the tration of such a system 1.3 01136. i Figures 5 I entire hoisting operation up :to the point 399 Where the cable coincides with the vertical plane of the beam, there is a direct off-center load on the trolley follower tending to shift the follower laterally with respect to the beam and to severely distort the latter. This condition is illustrated in Figure 3, from which it will be observed that substantially the entire load is imposed upon the left trolley roller and the outer left hand edge of the idea'- flan c of tn} bealnf Thiscorfdi tion results in distortion crthaflangeand web of the beam and also tends to impair anchorage.

The conditions described .aboite are well known, as they have existed in this and sim- "ilajfsituiitiohs'for along time'l Many ine'a'ns lia'vebeen"siiggested and died to meanness ditions, none seems to-have withstood the test or vpr'a,ctical application. The presat; iiivcntioii 'presents a tried and satisfactill ""soliitioii' to'th is problem." -Ref-errin to i i 1 I C l ligures at and 5, there is shown a guide beam 14 of right angle section, supportedby a pair of braclrets This beam is positioned paralley toand spaced laterally from'tnetrolley IbeamQf ",T eachaone' frame Tthere is 'sejchred'a short gan -1e iron 16 whose ins ce vfe rand horizontal surfaces are provided with contact 'shoes l-T designed for engageiiint with the vertical and horizonal'fac'e's,

resp ctively; ofguid e beam" 14.. -T;he shoes ITare secured to angle rons l6 bymean's of suitable bolts and they maybe ustedwith respect to'ar'igl'eir'ons 16" by the interposition of shim,seamen! Bet-h the verticalaiid lioriiontal faces of guide beam' 1a are beveled atfopposite ends so that the contact shoes 17 jeadny'iaevt e; the guide beam when the trolley follower moves into the zone of the sea. '51 "use connection. itWiH be mad that the guide beam is relatively short and is p osition ed substantially central with res ak-0am inclined track'5,"'so, that itis enema only during hoisting or tli'e bucket up" the inclined track.

The shoes 17 are so adjusted to have light co ea xi it h'theguidebeam'14 Whfin ,thfloa d onfthe tl-oiieyfencwa is "invertical alignment with the trolley beam; [I-lence, -.:i- .1 \r...

when the load is acting a an angle to the plane of the trolley beain,'as whenhoisting'a filled bucket from bottom of nclined t -ck 5, the resulting lateral and u ward sinister the trolley answer is transmitted tlireetly as guide beam 1%,f'chus" reliev-iiigthe trolley beam of torsional strain, ndunam- "taming are n t-nay fblibwer" ianofmerpo t era the m It isto" be "understood that the actual con- I struction of ,theparts'emanating tlie'invehti'oIi varied withdtlt iii atei iallya fieti'rigfthe"results; For examples sing-1e contact shoe stale" be "entirely e'fiectiveyf and this Ebfild be either "'t'ercical df hOfiiZofital shoe. Also, the means for adjusting the shoe or shoes, the means for securing them to the trolley frames, and the design and positioning of the guide beam, all may be varied in proper relation without destroying the benefits of.theinvention. I

IIi F-igure (S -there is shown a modification of the invention, wherein each pair 01"- anguglarly elatedr ntac 119. fth recedjiiig'figures is replaced by a' single angularly disposedcontact member 18, designed for c0- operation with a guide beam 19 having an angularly disposed contact surface. Thus,

.t-hecooperating inclined surfaces of contact member 18 and guide beam 19 serveto take both the "laterahand upward thrusts .of the 'trolley' follower. Obviously, -:means of adjiistment'may be provided inthis formloflthe invention if desired.

-travel"longitudinally on' said beam, loading means located at p oint laterally .oIflset with respect to the plane olfcthe .trolley'beam, a hoist bucket adapted to be loaded at'said point'and to'be moved along an inclined .path

"from saidpoint to apositio'n directlylberieath said trjolley I beam, flmeans' connecting said buclret a'nd trolley follower for so moving said bucket, and means for preventing the imposition o'l torsional s train'on saidftrolley" team duetothe angularity of the load acting on said trolley fol-lower.

2. The combination with a trolley beam positioned in 'a liXed plane, .a. trolley follower, and a load connected to said follower'and acting ina plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said beam,o:t means for 'preventing the imposition oftbrsional strain on said beam due t6 the angularity. oi .the'load actingo'n said follower.

"3; The combination with .a trolley beam positioned in"afix ed plane, a trolley foliowr, and a load on'necte d to said follower and acting a plane at 'an angleto the plane of said beam, of means for preventingi'tor sion'afmovement o f said .ifol-lower due to the 'angularity of the load acting thereon, said means consisting of an abutment positioned adjacent saidloeam and adaptedtb be .,en agd b. said follower.

' lf-The cbmbination set forth in claim 3, characterized'iii that said meansconsists of cooperating"'abutrnents, one relatively stationary'antl the other carried by said fol- 5. The combination set forth in claim 3 characterized in that said means consists of an adjustable abutment on said follower and a cooperating stationary abutment.

5 6. The combination with a trolley beam arranged in a substantially vertical plane, a trolley follower adapted to be moved longitudinally thereon, a load carrying device connected to said follower and adapted to be ele- 1o vated along an inclined path from a lower point laterally offset with respect to the vertical plane of the trolley beam, of an adjustable abutment carried by said follower and a cooperating stationary abutment.

7. The combination with a trolley beam arranged in a substantially vertical plane, a trolley follower adapted to be moved longitudinally thereon, a load carrying device connected to said follower and adapted to be elevated along an inclined path from a lower point laterally offset with respect to the vertical plane of the trolley beam, of a stationary abutment positioned adjacent and parallel to said beam and having angularly related 2 contact surfaces, and cooperating abutments carried by said follower and adapted to engage said surfaces.

8. In a material handling system, the combination of a plurality of material receptacles, a trolley beam positioned above said receptacles, a trolley follower adapted to be moved longitudinally on said beam, an inclined track extending from beneath said beam to a point laterally offset with respect thereto, load carrying means operatively connected to said follower and adapted to be moved from the lower end of said track to a point beneath said beam and then longitudinally of said beam into operative relation to any one of said receptacles, and an abutment positioned adjacent said beam'and adapted to be engaged by said follower when the latter is in hoisting position to relieve said beam and follower of torsional strain due to the angularity of the load acting on the latter.

Signed at Philadelphia, Pa, this 16th day of December, 1930.

FERDINAND F. WAEGHTER. 

